Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003)

Tom Wilkinson: Van Ruijven

Photos 

Quotes 

• Van Ruijven : How hard is it to paint a pretty girl?

• [referring to a yellow paint used in Vermeer's portrait of Mistress van Ruijven] 

  Van Ruijven : Is this Indian yellow? Distilled from the urine of sacred cows feed only on mango leaves. You've glazed my wife - in dried piss.

• Van Ruijven : It was the old woman's idea to combine the birth feast and the viewing. She's a tight fist! I won't turn out for small beer and biscuits, tell her.

• Van Ruijven : You have very wide eyes.

• [after cornering Griet] 

  Van Ruijven : [maliciously]  Ripe as a plum, still unplucked.

• Van Ruijven : Griet, come here. What were you doing today? I missed you. We both did. I hear you've been of great use to your master, pretty Griet. All that grinding and stirring, eh? Master and maid. Its a tune we all know. And you can practice together, now.

• Van Ruijven : Your master is a fine painter, Griet. The finest in Delft. He's painted me. Perhaps, that will be my epitaph.

  [Removes a cloth from the front of a painting] 

  Van Ruijven : Look at that dress. You can almost stroke the satin And the wine, winking through the glass. Can you imagine yourself in such finery, Griet? She loved it, you know. Lace and satin pressed tightly against her pump little bobbies. The silk, heavy on her thighs. The gentlemen watching. My God, she was happy.

• Van Ruijven : So, have you decided what to do up next, Jan? Have you found inspiration up in that room of yours? Is there another patron in Delft with pockets as deep as mine?

• Maria Thins : One of the great patrons! With your exquisite taste. Your subtle understanding of allegory and illusions.

  Van Ruijven : No, no, no, stop it! Stop it! Stop it! My God, woman, you could sell sour milk to cows.

• Van Ruijven : Look at her, man! How hard is it to paint a pretty girl? Can I have her?

• Van Ruijven : I gotcha. Hold still! I want to to look at you. Now, girl, tell me how you get on up there. Has he found his composition? Do you move him? Do you inspire him?

• Van Ruijven : He made a bargain with me. He's painting you at my pleasure. I waited long enough. What a great fool he is. Don't fight.

• Van Ruijven : Ah, there you are, my dear. The maid kept me talking with some cock-and-bull story.